Acetylene-gas generator.



n6.'7|s,4as-. Patantud Doc. 23, I902. F. smousom AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed my 9, 1898.1 .-(|lo llndal.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

' Patented Dec. 23,1902.-

F. SIMONSON. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed May 9, 1898 (No Model.) 3 Sheeis-8heet 2.

THE u'cnms Farms co. PHOYO-LIYHO, wnsnwnfm. u. c

No. 7l6,488. Patented Dec. 23, I902.

F. smousou.

ACETYLENE GAS szuenuonf (Application filed May a, 1898.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheats-$heat 3.

WW Hui .ical action of a liquid, as water, on calcium ll iTn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLAVEL SIMONSON, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECTFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,488, dated December 23, 1902.

Application filed May 9,1898. Serial No. 680,237. No model-l T0 alt 2071,0121 it may concern:

Be it known that I, FLAVEL S1MoNsoN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of Whiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inven tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for generating gas through the chemcarbid.

One of the leading characteristic features of this invention is that one or more generators can be employed to produce the gas, which is thence conducted into a large receiver adapted to hold a considerable body of accumulated. gas.

In a gas plant of large capacity it is found desirable to operate a plurality of generators and convey the gas to a common gas holder or receiver for storage and use. Among the advantages incident to this construction may be mentioned the fact that each generator can be charged to cover a different period of time in the production of gas, and when the charge is expended may be recharged without in anyway interfering with the lights or with the operation of the other generator or affecting the working of the plant as a whole. In gas plants of this kind two important points must be consideredfirst, how to start a generator in action Without introducing too much air into the gas, and, second, how to recharge a generator and not lose gas. The first object is accomplished in my present device by providing a comparatively small tube in which to locate the carbid in such a manner that action may be had on it by the liquid, the size of the tube carrying so small a volume of air (about one twenty-sixth of a cubic foot) that the effect is in no Wise perceptible in the illuminating quality of the gas. The second requisite is obtained in an obvious manner, owing to the fact that when the contents of the generator ceases to produce gas the generator sinks to the bottom of the water-tank and the liquid eXpels all the gas from the interior of the generator. Then by cutting off the connection between the generator and the gas-receiver before withdrawing the generator to recharge little or no gas is liberated.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the description following.

The nature of the invention Will-be more fully hereinafter disclosed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a front elevation of a tank for my improved generator and a contiguous gasholder. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, with the tops of the generating apparatus and the watertank of the gasometer removed. Fig. 3 is a View of the bottom of the gasometer. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view showing the upper end of one of the gas-outlet pipes either in the generator or gasometer. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of that portion of the generating apparatus which contains the calcium carbid and connected parts. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 8 is a front view of the detachable clamp holding the stack of carbid-cells in position in the generating apparatus. Fig. 9 is a side View of the same, the cells being in position preliminary to fastening in the clamp.

The gas-generating apparatus is represented partly in Fig. 1 and in fuller detail in the figures on the third sheet of drawings. In Fig. 1, G denotes a vertical water-tank with a closed bottom, open at the top, and provided with a suitable hinged cover G. In practice a battery of these tanks is ordinarily provided, three being shown in Fig. 2, so that it becomes possible for the operator to charge any one of the batteries with carbid without disturbing the action of any of the others. This tank is provided with an outside lip G similar to that applied to the outside of the main tank A, to indicate the level of Water within and for convenience in replenishing. The tank is filled with water to the level indicated in Fig. 1, and the displacement of the Water by the sinking of the gas-generator H causes the water to rise in the spout, where its level may be noted. To the bottom of this generator-tank is attached the gas-outlet pipe I, communicating with the horizontal pipe D. Each one of the water-tanks in the battery is connected with this outlet-pipe by individual outlet-pipes I, which terminate in a'vertical extension 1 ending somewhat above the normal or abnormal level of the water in the tank. The construction of the upper ends of these vertical pipes is illustrated in Fig. at, they being closed with a cap 1 counterbored at I, and the pipe itself being provided with small outlet-holes 1 communicating with the counterbore. The object of this construction is to prevent filling the pipe with water as it is poured into the tank from above. In practice I prefer to make the generator-tanks of the irregular octagonal form represented in Fig. 2, having an ofiset G to accommodate the lateral tube H, connected with the generator H. This construction is such as to prevent the possibility of getting the generator into the tank wrong and absolutely secures the telescoping of the tube H over the vertical pipe 1 As a further precaution against mistake or accident, the cooks I", which closethese pipes I, are operated by stems J, extending up to the top of the water-tank and terminating in bent levers J, which project inwardly over the top of each water-tank. The lever terminates in adownward bend J which prevents its swinging outwardly beyond a limited distance, at which position cock I is fully closed, as illustrated in Fig. 2. By reference to this figure it will be seen that when in the position shown by the main outlines it is impossible to remove thegenerator from the tank, it being understood that in this position the cocks are open. In order, therefore,to remove 1 he generator for recharging, it becomes necessary for the operator to swing the bent lever back to the position indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 2, closing the cock and preventing the gas from the gas-receiver, or gasometer, as it may be called, from backing up and escaping through the generator-tank. On replacing the recharged generator the operator is apprised of any mistake he may have made in not reopening this cock by the fact that the downwardly-extending flange of the lid covering the generator-tanks will not close down until the handle is swung to its normal position, thereby opening the cock 1 and allowing the generator to get into action. The generator itself consists of a cylindrical body H, adapted to receive a stack of carbid-cells K. The lower part of the generator is provided with a closed air-chamber H to give a suitable buoyancy to it and to prevent its sinking too readily into the water in the generator-tank, it being understood that the gas within the generator-tube carries all the generator and its load of carbid not carried by the closed air-chamber. This excess weight carried by the gas must be just suificient to give the proper pressure and must also be sufficient to cause a continual sinking of the generator, as the gas is all generated from the carbid in This pressure the cells one after another.

must not be too great so but that it can be overcome by the automatic action of the excessive rise of the bell of the gasometer, retarding and finally suspending the production of gas. The upper end is closed by a suitable hood H to protect the interior. from water poured into the tank, small holes H being provided to allow free circulation of the air for coolness in this vacant part of the generator cylinder. Some distance below this is a conical diaphragm H communicating with an outlet-pipe II, which joins the tube H, already described. Within this tube is another tube H closed at the upper end except a small orifice H adapted for the very gradual admission of gas into the internal tube. The size of this hole automatically limits the production of gas, it being an obvious fact that if gas is produced faster than it can find an exit through this hole the generator would be raised in the liquid by the excess of gas and the liquid pushed below the generating-cells in action until such time as would allow the gas to escape and the liquid again come in contact with the live carbid. This internal tube telescopes over the stand pipe 1 as indicated in Fig. 1. Some distance up from the bottom this internal tube is provided with one or more holes H to allow for the more rapid escape of gas in casegas should be generated so suddenly as to force the generator high enough in the tank to bring these holes above the surface of the water therein, at which condition the generation of gas would cease. In practice the hole H which is quite minute, is formed in a plate of non-corroding metal, such as silver or German silver, H and thus an escape-hole of very small diameter is always provided for the gas as generated.

The calcium carbid is contained in the stack of cells K, which are so made as to fit quite easily together. The stack prevents the va pors arising from the generation of gas in any lower cup escaping into a cup above. This is accomplished in the simple manner illustrated in Figs. 6 and 9 by forming the cups with a bottom flange K, terminating in a flaring downwardly-extending flange K which fits neatly over the upper edge of the cup below. The construction is such that the cells may be stacked up after being filled very quickly and easily, and so set in the clamp L in position, which binds them all together. This clamp is fully illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, and consists, essentially, of a rectangular bail L, at the upper end of which is secured a cover L for the upper cup. In the lower part of this bail is hinged another rectangular bail L provided with a suitable base L for the bottom cup, the part being pivoted on a cross-rod L This internal bail is made of such a length-that when in holding position the feet of it engage the lower end of the outer bail, and thus serve to force the cups into close contact by pressing them up against the upper cover L For this purpose the lower nd of the inner bail is rounded, as shown in Fig. 9, and a slot L is provided, through which the cross-rod L passes, so as to allow for a considerablevertical movement of the internal bail as soon as the feet of it leave the lower end of the outer bail. To the outside of the outer bail at the lower end is attached a crossbar L which extends some distance beyond the sides of the bail and is adapted to engage with suitable stirrups H attached to the lower end of the generator H. This stack of cells when filled and in proper position is inserted in the generator-cylinder and given a slight turn to fasten it in position, as will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 7.

The operation of the machine will now be understood. The generator-tanks and main tanks being suitably supplied with water, one or more of the generators is charged with a sufficient quantity of carbid and is placed in position in its appropriate water-tank. In opening the cock in the escape-pipe I the first action is of course to liberate the small quantity of air contained in the bottom of the generator-cylinder below the lowest carbid-cell. This air passes into the main gas-receptacle and in process of time com mingles with the whole body of gas. Its volume is so small, however, that it does not injuriously affect the gas so generated. So soon as this air shall have escaped the generator settles down in the water until the surface of the water is in contact with the lower carbid cup, which is provided with suitable holes K at the bottom to admit water to the. contents. As soon as the water comes into contact with the carbid the generation of gas begins, and the gas escaping between the cups, which are not supposed to fit tightly together, passes up through the main cylinder of the gas-generator and escapes through the pipe in a tube into the telescoping tube at the side, in its passage having to go through the minute orifice H and thence through the stand-pipe into the main receiver. In case the generation of gas is more rapid than sufficient to pass through the orifice H a volume of gas will of course be formed in the interior of the generator, and this volume of gas acts in the same way as does the initial volume of air in the lower end and buoys up the generator, forcing it out of contact with the surface of the Water and stopping the chemical action and the generation of gas. The generator is thus entirely automatic and almost instantaneous in its action, it being physically impossible for it to generate gas faster than it may flow through the small orifice for its outlet. The action of the gas in the main receiver or gasometer has already been sufficiently described, and it will be seen that through the joint effort of gas-pressure, the buoyancy of the air-chamber in the water, and gravity the whole apparatus is made entirely automatic, and any tendency from any at once bring up, throughthe action of pressure and buoyancy, a condition in which the gas may escape and any possible undue pressure be avoided and the production of gas arrested.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a suitable gas-collecting receptacle, of a stack of carbid-cells fitting neatly together, and a retaining-clamp therefor consisting essentially of a bail provided with a cap to close the upper cell of the stack and an oscillating inner bail hinged to said outer bail, provided with asuitable base, and adapted to force the stack of cups into close contact when the inner bail is turned in a line with the outer one, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described clamp for a stack of carbid-cells consisting of a rectangular outer bail, a cap at the upper end thereof, an inner bail hinged near the bottom thereof, said inner bail being provided with a base for the bottom cell, and slots through which the pivot-wire passes, and rounded lower ends adapted to engage the lower end of the outer bail whereby the cups are forced into close contact when the inner bail is brought in a line with the outer one, substantially as described.

3. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a receptacle for a battery ofcarbid-cells, provided with stirrups at the lower end adapted to engage the cross-bar of the cell-clamp, and the herein-described clamp adapted to hold a stack of carbid-cells, and provided with a laterally-projecting cross bar at the lower end to engage said stirrups, substantially as described.

4. In an acetylene-gas generator, a receptacle for a stack of carbid-cells, provided with an air-chamber for buoyancy, an outlet-pipe communicating with the upper portion of said cell-receptacle, a lateral down-pipe with which said pipe communicates, and an internal pipe closed at the upper endexcept by a small orifice, and open at the lower end and provided with outlet-holes about on a level with the lower cup of the stack, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an acetylene-gas generator, a receptacle for a stack of carbid-cells, having a closed upper end adapted to shed water, one or more vent-holes below the same, and adiaphragm some distance below communicating with the carbid-receptacle and with an outlet-pipe, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an acetylene-gas machine, the combination with a suitable generator adapted to hold a stack of carbidcells, and having a lateral escape-pipe for the gas and a water-tank provided with an offset to contain said lateral escape-pipe, and prevent the generator being placed in it except with said lateral cause whatever to unduly generate gas will pipe in said offset, as described.

7. The combination with a gasometerhaving a vertically-movable gas-holder with its open end water-sealed in a suitable tank or reservoir, said reservoir having a central body rising above the surface of the water in the interior of the gas-holder, ot' a supplypipe communicating with said holder, a service-pipe leading therefrom, an escape-pipe having its open end near the top of and inside said central body, an auxiliary escapepipe having one open end near the top and inside said body and another end opening out of said body at a considerably lower point, and a drain-pipe adjacent to said auxiliary pipe and opening out of said body at a lower point, substantially as described.

8. In a gas-generatingapparatus, the combination with a gas-holder, substantially as- In testimony whereof I affix my signature 7 in presence of two witnesses.

. FLAVEL SIMONSON. Witnesses:

C. E. WALTERS, J. F. GROAT. 

